Edits can, and sometimes should, be free. New additions and changes, however, are not. For example: the initial brief specifies that the person should go through four steps, but during the editing, a fifth step is accidentally added. This is straightforward—it’s necessary to fix the shot, and doing so should be free. Four steps were agreed upon, so it’s four.
Another example: the brief specifies that there should be lower-thirds with captions, but the editor created dark lower-thirds with white Unisans font. The client wants a different color and font. Okay, this is a minor tweak—just changing a couple of parameters without major restructuring. This can also be done for free.
However, if the brief didn’t include lower-thirds, titles, or graphics, and the client decides to add them, then later asks for adjustments to the color, font, and placement—this is considered new work. And it’s only fair to charge extra for that.
It’s better to explain to the client upfront what is included in the budget and what will require additional payment. This will help avoid unnecessary expectations and misunderstandings. That way, we take care of both the client and ourselves.
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